I recently purchased 3 new bikes for a family biking trip and I wanted each bike to have it's own lock-set.

Before I purchased the lock-sets, I noticed that the Avenir packaging stated "WARNING (in bold): Improper installation or use may result in serious accident or injury. For proper installation and use please visit your local bicycle dealer"

After reading this warning, I asked the Assistant Store Manager at Sports Authority if he knew the correct way to install both the U-lock and cable so that they would lock the bikes properly. Unfortunately he was not familiar with the product but thought that the packaging would include instructions.

Avenir does NOT provide instructions on how to properly lock the bike but it does provide instructions on how to attach the U-lock to the bikes frame while you ride.

I attempted to call the company and get clarification on how to properly install the both the U-lock and cable. They were unwilling to tell me how to properly install their lock-set. I was told that "people use the lock-set in many different ways."

If your bike is stolen, you have no recourse with Avenir. They did not tell you how to install the lock and therefore they are not liable if your bike is stolen because of incorrect installation of the lock-set.

In todays legal oriented world, not including installation instructions seems to be the current trend for companies to have "plausible deniability" if there product fails to provide the service that the product was designed for.

I returned the three lock-sets and will be purchasing lock-sets from a manufacturer that is more concerned about providing a top level lock-set and not what their liability will be once the bike is stolen. If the Avenir lock-set was actually a great lock-set, what would the company have to worry about anyways? After all, no one would be stealing bikes that were protected by a good lock-set.

Over two thousand years ago, the Romans used the phrase "CAVEAT EMPTOR". That phrase translates to "let the buyer beware".